The coating can absorb more than 99% of visible, ultraviolet, infrared and near-infrared light.

Nasa suggested it could be used in detectors and instrument components where stray-light causes problems.

Since the material reflects hundreds of times less light than the paints currently used, the agency said it could help create equipment capable of measuring distant objects such as planets orbiting stars outside our solar system.

"This is a very promising material," Nasa scientist Ed Wollack said.

"It's robust, lightweight, and extremely black. It is better than black paint by a shot."